Cougars sweep Harris-Stowe

After missing more than a month with mononucleosis, Jeanie Meyers is working herself back into the Columbia College volleyball team’s rotation at right outside hitter. That’s where she started in the Columbia College volleyball team’s 30-9, 30-11, 30-14 sweep of Harris-Stowe State University in the quarterfinals of the American Midwest Conference Tournament on Tuesday at Southwell Complex.

Columbia College’s Jeanie Meyers, left, and Maria Omondi block a hit against Harris-Stowe State University on Tuesday. Meyers, a sophomore outside hitter, is recovering from mononucleosis to help lead the Cougars in the American Midwest Conference Tournament this week. (SAMANTHA CLEMENS/Missourian)

Meyers is a sophomore who first fell ill with strep throat that progressed to mono. Cougars coach Melinda Wrye-Washington said Meyers will play as long as she remains healthy.

“She was really sick, it was really scary,” Wrye-Washington said. “I’m a mom too and it was scary. Her clothes are sagging off of her a little bit; it’s making me nervous. We just want to get her healthy and play her as much as we can.”

Besides illness, the only thing that kept Meyers off the court was a lack of confidence. Wrye-Washington said Meyers is one of the Cougars’ most talented players, but had been sitting on the bench because she was not mentally tough enough.

“She has more skill probably than some of the players out there, but if you don’t have the attitude and the confidence, you can’t be out there,” Wrye-Washington said.

Meyers said getting into the game and playing well is a big confidence booster.

“The main thing was just being on the court and playing,” Meyers said. “I have to make sure to not let a bad play cause another one after that.”

Her confidence went up when she helped coach her high school team in Green Ridge before the season started. Meyers said she liked playing with the team the most because she was able to see how she helped players improve.

“It makes you feel better when they’re (the high school players) playing better when you’re out there than when you’re not,” Meyers said.

With the victory, the No. 1 seeded Cougars advanced to the semifinals of the AMC tournament and will host No. 4 seed University of Illinois-Springfield on Thursday. The Cougars swept the Prairie Stars in both of their regular season meetings.